UK high-rise DTV service

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Video Networks is in talks with the Government about offering subsidised digital television services to help it achieve its analogue switch off target of 2012, according to The Independent on Sunday. The company, which owns the video-on-demand TV service HomeChoice , allows viewers to watch digital TV via broadband and could potentially offer customers a slimmed down service of around 20 digital channels.

Video Networks believes that, with government assistance, it might be able to launch a low-cost service comprising about 20 digital channels that could be broadcast over telephone wires.

It says that HomeChoice could be useful in blocks of flats where ordinary terrestrial aerials cannot be converted to Freeview and satellite dishes cannot be fitted.

"If you have a council flat that does not have digital television there is not much point marketing a £27-per-month package. But if, in conjunction with the Government, we could offer a low-level digital and maybe telephony package, it could be appealing," said Video Networks chief executive, Roger Lynch.